Power duo Hugh Crickmore, former partner of Mas (farmhouse), and chef Alex Leonard, of two Michelin-starred Blanca, teamed up to open Lowlife on the Lower East Side.


Officially open to the public on Monday, the 70-seat restaurant showcases a thoughtful approach to seasonal ingredients. The à la carte menu, which draws inspiration from Japanese culinary techniques, features refined dishes—including lamb tartare with mint and shrimp salt, borscht with raw cream and trout roe, and yakitori-style chicken grilled on a robata—all elegantly plated, though the setting is casual and comfortable.

Leonard is embracing more complex techniques and flavor combinations, while allowing the ingredients to shine. Much of the kitchen’s produce hails from an organic Catskills farm owned by Crickmore’s brother, breads are sourced from Roberta’s in Brooklyn, and the chef makes his own vinegars, pickles, kimchee, freshly-churned butter, and cheese in-house.

With beautifully presented modern fare, a wine list focused on natural and sustainable winemaking, and a mid-century-modern-inspired interior, one thing is certain about this Stanton Street newcomer: there’s nothing lowlife about it.

Lowlife, 178 Stanton Street, 212.257.0509, lowlifenyc.com | Image: Melissa Hom for Grub Street